CHILDREN found ingenious ways during wartime to overcome the shortage of sweets.

Gerry Moore, a Second World War evacuee at Garsington, recalls: “We discovered that cough sweets and chocolate in the form of Ex-Lax were not on ration.

“The cough sweets were bearable, unless you ate too many, as they would make you sleepy, and eating too much Ex-Lax would put you on the toilet for days.

“Our immediate answer to the sweet crisis was to buy a small loaf of bread from the village baker, break it in half and pop in an Oxo cube.

“The meaty flavour would soon soak into the hot, warm centre – delicious.

“We also discovered the delights of the medlar – a strange little fruit, something like a crab apple, best eaten when half rotten.

“Bags of the fruit could be bought from the orchard next to the bakery owned by the Tryell family.

“What a delightful combination – hot bread with Oxo followed by half-rotten medlars – only a boy could appreciate the taste.”

In Garsington, the food shortages were not as bad as in the towns, as many villagers had large gardens and could grow fresh vegetables and fruit.

Village children also enjoyed school dinners, served in the village hall.

Mr Moore, who now lives in Weeting, Norfolk, writes: “The food varied enormously, but there was plenty of it – they went for quantity, not quality.

“My favourite was fish pie, followed by apple pie with custard and a mug of tea – lovely.

“We were also given a weekly dose of Virol, a sweet and sticky extract of malt, claimed to ensure that children got the proper quantity of vitamins.

“It was doled out by one of the teachers wielding a tablespoon – yes, the same spoon for all of us.”

More of Mr Moore’s memories soon.